Evaporating-pan.



no. 677,4le. Patented my 2, mol.

l. KITSEE.

EVAPUHATING PAN.

(Application filed Feb. 26, 1900.)

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No. 677,4!6. Patented July 2, |90I` I. KITSEE.

EVAPRATING PAN.

Appuciqn meid Een 2e., 1900., (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

ISIDOR KITSEE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

EVAPORATING-PAN.

S'EECIFINATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 677,416, dated. July 2, 1901. Application filed February 26, 1900. Serial No. 6.599. (No model.)

To all 107mm/ it 31m/y concerne:

Be it known that I, ISIDORKITSEE, of the city and countyof Philadelphiatate ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Evaporating-Pans, of which the following isa specification.

Generally speaking, my invention relates to an improvement in the production of solids out ofthe liquids containing said solids, and has more special reference to an improvement in the manufacture of caustic soda or sodiu n1 hydrate.

The production of caustic soda is now generally carried on by the action of electricity on common salt, (chlorid orsodiuni,) through which process a solution more or less saturated with alkaline hydrate is produced in the negative compartment of the electrolytic cell. This solution has to be evaporated for the purpose of producing the alkaline in a solid state. The main disadvantages of the evaporating process as practiced to-day are the great amount of labor required and inconvenience experienced in the handling of the bulky mass of liquid, emptying and cleaning of the evaporating-kettles, and the handling of the solid compound before ready for shipment. Another disadvantage is that the employment of kettles as practiced to-day results in a great loss of heat, for the reason that the first thin layer of the solid caustic greatly retards the heating of the liquid in the center of the evaporating vessel, and the' thicker the solid crust the greater the loss.

The object of my invention is to obviate these difficulties and to produce the solid caustic out of its solution with the least possible labor and the least possible loss of heat.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar characters indicate similar parts, Figure l is a sectional view illustrating my invention, the caustic liquid justentering the evaporating-pan. Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating my invention at the stage when the brush commences to sweep the solid contents of the evaporating-pan. Fig. 3 is a similar View illustrating my invention at the stage when through the action of the brush the solid contents are swept in one of the hogsheads in proximity to the evaporating-pan. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the evaporating-pan.

of the battery c, wire 3, contact-point e, Wire 4, and switch d. The electromagnet FS is connected to the circuit consisting of the loattery a, wire l, switch l), contact-point K, metallic pan H, and wire 2. The contact-point K is secured to but insulated from the metallic pan.

.G is the duct as part of the evaporatingpan. G' represents small holes or openings extending from this duct to the inner space of the pan, the lower part of which consists of the hollow box I, 'connected to the steampipes J. Y

Secured to the bottom of the pan, but insulated from it, is the conducting-strip L, connected to the battery f, wire 5, electromagnet L', wire G, and the pan itself. The armature L2 of this electromagnet is provided with the spring L3 and has in juxtaposition the contact-point L, connected through wire 8 and switch Tt to one of the rails M. The armature L2 is connected through wire 7, dynamo, or other source of electric current g with the second rail M. (.Not shown in the drawings.)

On the rails is placed the truck N, the wheels of which are insulated from each other. This truck is provided with the motor O, one terminal of which is connected through wire l0 with one of the rails M (not shown in the drawings) and the other terminal of which is connected through Wire 9 with wire 12, which wire is one ot' the terminals of the solenoid P, the other terminalof which is connected through wire 1l with the second rail M. (Illustrated in the drawings.) These rails are provided with the buffer M'.

On the truck is placed the conducting block or brush O'. To the lower part of the truck is secured the solenoid P. In this solenoid is placed the soft-iron core Q, provided as to its lower end with the brush or scraper R.

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The springs S, secured on their lower part to the cross-piece S', are designed to keep the brush ,or scraper R normally in an upward position and away from the bottom of the pan H. The terminals of the solenoid are connected through wires 1l and 12 to the circuit containing the dynamo or other generator of electricity g and in series with the motor, as above stated.

T is a barrel or hogshead placed on lthe truck U` provided with the weighted leverW. X and Y are two contact-points, the first one secured to the lever and the secondone in proximity to the first contact-point. This truck is placed on the rails V". The contact points X and Y are connected to the circuit consisting of wire 13, battery fi, alarm Z, rail V', wheels of the truck U, and lever YV.

The modus operandi is as follows: When the apparatus is outof action, the hand-valve O is closed; but the lever of the valve F should preferably be near the electromagnet F2. The switch h of the circuit containing the dynamo g is open. l'f it is desired to bring the device into action, it is only necessary to open the hand-valve C, and as the valve F is already open the liquid will liow into the pan till it has reached the contactpoint K. As soon as this contact-point is reached the circuit containing the electromagnet F3 will be closed and the lever F of the'valve F will be drawn toward this magnet and the valve will be closed, therebystopping the flow ot' the liquid. As soon as the liquid has covered the bottom of the pan the circuit including the electromagnet L' will be closed,

energizing the core of the electromagnet and j drawing the lever L2 toward it and away from the contactpoint L4. At this -period the switch h should be closed. The steam or other source of heat is now allowed to pass through the pipes J and the hollow part I of the pan H. Through the action of this heat the liquid in the pan will evaporate and will leave the solid contents at the bottom of the pan. As long as moisture remains at the bottom of the pan the circuit consisting of the insulated conducting-strip L, battery f, wire 5, electromagnet L', wire 6, conducting part of the pan, and the moisture will be closed and the circuit including the dynamo g will be opened, because thev armature L2 will be drawn away from the contact-point L4; but as soon as the liquid in the pan has evaporated and the solid contents are dried enough to otter a higher resistance to the passage of the current the circuit of the electromagnet L' will be broken and the lever L2 will be drawn by its spring L3 toward and in contact with the point L4, closing the circuit including the generator g. The closing of this circuit will have a twofold result-first, the current will How through the solenoid and draw the softdron part of the core Q downward, thereby pulling down the brush or scraper R till the same is in contact with the bottom of the pan H, and, second, lthe current will also How through the motor O, actuating this motor, thereby moving the truck from its restingpoint near M toward the opposite end of the rail. This moving of the truck and pressing downward of the brush will result in the sweeping of the bottom ot the pan and in carrying the contents of this bottom toward that part of the pan which is in proximity to the barrel T, and from this point through the sweeping action of the brush or scraper R the solid contents of the pan will'be thrown out of the pan and into the barrel T. As soon as the truck N has reached that point of the line of travel where the contact-points e are stationed the contact block or brush O', secured to the truck N, will bring these contact-points in lelectrical contact with each other, thereby closing the electric circuit containing the electromagnet F2. The closing of this circuit will result in drawing the le ver F of the valve F away from the electromagnet F3 and toward the electromagnet F2,

vthereby opening said valve and allowing the liquid to iiow into the pan. As soon as any part of the bottom of this pan is even in the 'slightest degree covered by the liquid the 'truck N, but as the rails of travel are some-l whatinclined toward the buier M' the truck will by its own gravity run backward till it comes to a stop at the point where the buffer is placed. The liquid in the meantime will continue to iow into the pan till again the IOO IIO

contact-point K is reached, when the closing of the circuit including this point will again draw the lever F' toward the 'm agnet- F3, thereby closing the valve F and stopping the iniiow of the liquid. The heat will again evaporate the liquid, the core of the electromagnet L will again be demagnetized, allowing its armature to close the circuit containing the dynamo, the brush. will again sweep the dry W, thereby bringing in contact the contactl points X and Y, closing the circuit, and actuating the alarm Z, notifying the attendants that the required amount of solid caustic has been placed into the hogshead or barrel. It

will then be only necessary to move the truck out of the evaporating-room and into the store-v illustration of this process, because these details may vary according to requirements, and a description of same would only tend to make less clear the different steps necessary in the broad application of my invention. As I considered myself the first applying,` an entirely automatic action to the process ot producing solid out of liquid alkaline, I deemed it unnecessary to more than illustra-te in diagrammatic views the electric circuits to illustrate in broad principle the different mechanical devices necessary to produce the required result, stat-ing at the same time that other mechanical means may be employed producing the same result without departing from the scope of my invention. I have illustrated and described the electric circuit containing the dynamo as being opened and closed not directly through the liquid contents in the pan, but with inter-position of a second circuit containing an electromagnet, for the reason that I deemed it impractical to allowa heavy current to iiow throughfsaid liquid. To illustrate the upward and down ward movements of the broom or scraper R, I made use of the solenoid action; but ditlerent electromagnetic means may be employed, and it may even be more advantageous to use au electromagnet wherein the armature consists of a semicircle and wherein levers are connected to the armature. As said above, it is my purpose to illustrate and describe the broad idea and application and the means for same, leaving the execution of the different devices to the person in charge of making and assembling the same. I do not intend to allow the liquid to reach in the evaporating-pans a depth of more than aboutone-hali` ot an inch, for the reason that the solid crust formed should not interfere with the evaporating process; but the adjustment may be such as to allow different heights, and the person in charge of the plant will readily ascertain what height is advisable in his special case. So, also, have the sizes of the pans to be decided according to requirements; so, also, the size of the barrel or hogshead and the amount of weight to be placed on the lever. I have illustrated the device designed to sweep the solid contents of the pan into the hogshead as consisting of a broom; but other devices may be employed, or the broom may be followed by a scraper,

or vice versa, or two o'r more brooms may be employed, and the person in charge of the plant has to learn by experience what is necessary in his special case. The pan I have illustrated and described as being provided with the hollow part designed to act as a conveyer for the steam or hot air or other medium of heat. This is done for the purpose of economizing. Should the pan only be placed on top of pipes conveyingheat, a great loss would result from the radiation of said pipes. This loss is mostly obviated by the arrangement as illustrated. The whole arrangementI call an evaporatingplant.7 I have illustrated the helix or solenoid P as being electrically connected to the rail M. It is obvious that in practice this connection is best accomplished through one of the wheels with which the truck is provided; butIhave rather illustrated a direct connection for the same purpose, as I have illustrated direct connections in other places, for the reason that the dow of the current should be more easily traced by persons desiring to establish plants according to this my invention, leaving to the judgment of these persons the details and different adjustments of same.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an evaporating-pan, the combination with the pan proper, of a movable carrier arranged adjacent to said pan, and electromaglnetically-controlled means arranged upon said carrier for removing the residual products after evaporation.

2. In an evaporatingpan, the combination with the pan proper,of electromagnetic means for controlling the inflow of the liquid to said pan, and electromagnetically-controlled means for removing the residual products of the pan after evaporation.

3. In an evaporating-pan, the combination with the pan proper, of electromagnetic means for controlling the intiow of the liquid to said pan, a movable carrier arranged adjacent to said pan, and means arranged upon said carrier for removing the residual products after evaporation.

4t. In an evaporating-pan, the combination with the pan proper, of an inlet-pipe for feeding said pan with the liquid to be evaporated, a valve arranged in said pipe, electromagnetic means for actuating said valve, a movable carrier arranged adjacent to said pan, and means arranged upon said carrier for removing the residual products after evaporation.

5. In an evaporating-pan, the combination with the pan proper, of electromagnetic means for controlling the flow of the liquid to said pan, an electric circuit comprehending the pan as a part thereof, said circuit controlling said electromagnetic means, a movable carrier arranged adjacent to said pan, and means arranged upon said carrier for removing the residual products after evaporation.

6. In an evaporating-pan, the combination IOO IIO

with the pan proper, of a valve for controlling the flow of the liquid thereto, an electric circuit controlling said valve for closing the same when the liquid contents of the pau have reached a predetermined height, a second electric circ uit controlling said valve for opening the same when the liquid contents have been evaporated, and electromagnetic means for removing the residual products after evaporation.

7. In an evaporating-pan, the combination with the pan proper, of avalve for controlling the iiow of the liquid thereto, an electric circuit in which is included electromagnetic means for closing said valve when the liquid contents of the pan have reached a predetermined height, a second electric circuit in cluding electromagnetic means for opening said Valve when the liquid contents have been evaporated, a movable carrier arrangedY ad jacent to the pan, and means arranged upon said carrier for removing the residual products after evaporation.

8. In an evaporating-pan, the combination with the pan proper, of a valve for controlling the ow of the liquid thereto, electromagnetic means for opening and closing said valve, an electrically-operated carrier arranged adjacent to the pan, means arranged upon said carrier for removing the residual products after evaporation, and an electric circuit in which lthe pan is included, said circuit controlling the movements of the carrier.

9. In an evaporating-pan, the combination n with the pan proper, of a valve for controlling the flow of the liquid to said pan, electromagnetic means for opening and closing said valve, an electricallyoperated carrier arranged in proximity to the pan, a sweeper arranged upon said carrier for removing the residual products after evaporation, and an electric circuit including the pau as part thereof, said circuit controlling the movements of said carrier.

l0. In an evaporating-pan, the combination with the pan proper, of a valve for controlling the iiow of the liquid thereto, electromagnetic means for opening and closing said valve, a movable carrie-r arranged adjacent to said pan, a sweeper arranged upon said carrier for removing the residual products after evaporation, eletromagnetic means for operating said sweeper to position the same in operative relation to the pan, and an electric circuit for controlling the movements ofsaid carrier.

l1. In an evaporating-pan, the combination with the pan proper, of a valve for controlling the iioW of the liquid thereto, electromagnetic means for opening and closing said valve, an electrically-operated carrier arranged in proximity to the pan, a sweeper arranged upon said carrier, electromagnetic means for operating said sweeper to position the same in operative relation to the pan, means for removing the sweeper from such relation, and an electric circuit controlling l[he movements of said carrier. A

l2. In an evaporating-pan, the combination With the pan proper,or` electromagnetic means for controlling the flow of the liquid thereto, electromagnetic means for removing the resid ual products afterevaporation,areceptacle -for receiving the residual prodncts,and means operatively related to said receptacle for indicating the filling thereof.

In testimony whereof I hereby sign my name, in the presence of two subscribing wit nesses, this 23d day of February, 1900.

ISIDOR KITSEE.

'Vitnesses:

EDITH R. STILLEY, WALLACE B. ELDRIDGE. 

